Vivitar 283 and 285 and ringflash voltage

JCSullivan · 11-15-2008, 09:41 AM

I spent a little of today documenting the voltages of my flashes and some of them are real woppers... 263 volts... ouch!

Vivitar 283 and Vivitar 285 voltage Et cetera!!!

lithos · 11-15-2008, 10:24 AM

Behold! The GBFO List of Flash Trigger Voltages!

Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages

Some of those are insanely high. I think (DO NOT quote me on this!) the K20D can handle high voltages, but I don't know if that's just through the PC Sync terminal.

PentHassyKon · 11-15-2008, 11:00 AM

Originally posted by JCSullivan

I spent a little of today documenting the voltages of my flashes and some of them are real woppers... 263 volts... ouch!

Vivitar 283 and Vivitar 285 voltage Et cetera!!!

Can you folks explain how I can measure the voltage on my flashes? I have a multimeter but want to know the procedure for checking.

I also have Vivitar 283 and a couple of Vivitar 285 as well as a Nikon SB-24. I note that the SB-24 apparently has <6v according to the trigger voltage link but I want to check or myself as I don't want to 'fry' my camera.

thx

VF-19 · 11-15-2008, 11:56 AM

It's pretty simple. Grab a voltmeter, and apply one probe to the center contact on the shoe, and the other probe to the other contact on the side of the shoe (point the flash away from your eyes). If you get a reading in negative numbers, reverse the probes. Read what the voltmeter says (ie 200 volts), and then, while keeping the probes attached to the contacts on the flash, fire off a couple of test pops, and read the voltage throughout the test.

geauxpez · 11-15-2008, 07:48 PM

PentHassyKon -- go ahead & check your voltages, but your SB-24 should be fine. I have 2 that I use on my hotshoe.

PentHassyKon · 11-15-2008, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by geauxpez

PentHassyKon -- go ahead & check your voltages, but your SB-24 should be fine. I have 2 that I use on my hotshoe.

thx!
I did ask on a separate thread specifically about using Nikon flashes and was told that it would be fine.
I do however also want to check my 283/285 flahses.
I've also got a Pentax AF400T and was wondering about it's compatability with the K2000/k200d/k20d bodies.

Keep in mind that I've yet to get a DSLR and just want to be prepared when I do!

JCSullivan · 11-16-2008, 07:12 AM

Jeff Geerling has a very GOOD tutorial here Measuring the Voltage on a Vivitar 285 or 285HV Flash Head - Life is a Prayer.com

Lithos, what is a GBFO???? Or you trying to be funny!

Pentaxoid · 12-27-2009, 09:38 AM

I measured 170V on my Vivitar 283 is there a risk for my Pentax K2000? I cannot find the maximum hotshoe voltage in my ****en' manual.

Steinback · 12-27-2009, 01:18 PM

@Pentaxoid - Strobe trigger voltages are discussed quite a bit online but unfortunately most manufacturers don't release a maximum voltage that their camera hotshoes are guaranteed to handle. Anything under 24v is probably safe, and over that you are taking your chances. My flashes are all trigger between 5v and 12v.

Seeing as you could pick up a replacement Vivitar 283 or 285 with a ~6 volt sync for about $50 it's probably time to retire your current flash to off camera use only.

11-15-2008, 09:41 AM	#1
JCSullivan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada Posts: 3,056	Vivitar 283 and 285 and ringflash voltage I spent a little of today documenting the voltages of my flashes and some of them are real woppers... 263 volts... ouch! Vivitar 283 and Vivitar 285 voltage Et cetera!!!

11-15-2008, 08:00 PM	#6
PentHassyKon Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 415	Originally posted by geauxpez PentHassyKon -- go ahead & check your voltages, but your SB-24 should be fine. I have 2 that I use on my hotshoe. thx! I did ask on a separate thread specifically about using Nikon flashes and was told that it would be fine. I do however also want to check my 283/285 flahses. I've also got a Pentax AF400T and was wondering about it's compatability with the K2000/k200d/k20d bodies. Keep in mind that I've yet to get a DSLR and just want to be prepared when I do! Last edited by PentHassyKon; 11-16-2008 at 08:52 AM. Reason: clarify 1st sentence

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11-15-2008, 10:24 AM	#2
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	Behold! The GBFO List of Flash Trigger Voltages! Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages Some of those are insanely high. I think (DO NOT quote me on this!) the K20D can handle high voltages, but I don't know if that's just through the PC Sync terminal.

11-15-2008, 11:00 AM	#3
PentHassyKon Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 415	Originally posted by JCSullivan I spent a little of today documenting the voltages of my flashes and some of them are real woppers... 263 volts... ouch! Vivitar 283 and Vivitar 285 voltage Et cetera!!! Can you folks explain how I can measure the voltage on my flashes? I have a multimeter but want to know the procedure for checking. I also have Vivitar 283 and a couple of Vivitar 285 as well as a Nikon SB-24. I note that the SB-24 apparently has <6v according to the trigger voltage link but I want to check or myself as I don't want to 'fry' my camera. thx

11-15-2008, 11:56 AM	#4
VF-19 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ottawa Posts: 364	It's pretty simple. Grab a voltmeter, and apply one probe to the center contact on the shoe, and the other probe to the other contact on the side of the shoe (point the flash away from your eyes). If you get a reading in negative numbers, reverse the probes. Read what the voltmeter says (ie 200 volts), and then, while keeping the probes attached to the contacts on the flash, fire off a couple of test pops, and read the voltage throughout the test.

11-15-2008, 07:48 PM	#5
geauxpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Atlanta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,196	PentHassyKon -- go ahead & check your voltages, but your SB-24 should be fine. I have 2 that I use on my hotshoe.

11-16-2008, 07:12 AM	#7
JCSullivan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada Posts: 3,056 Original Poster	Jeff Geerling has a very GOOD tutorial here Measuring the Voltage on a Vivitar 285 or 285HV Flash Head - Life is a Prayer.com Lithos, what is a GBFO???? Or you trying to be funny!

12-27-2009, 09:38 AM	#8
Pentaxoid Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 48	I measured 170V on my Vivitar 283 is there a risk for my Pentax K2000? I cannot find the maximum hotshoe voltage in my ****en' manual.

12-27-2009, 01:18 PM	#9
Steinback Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,673	@Pentaxoid - Strobe trigger voltages are discussed quite a bit online but unfortunately most manufacturers don't release a maximum voltage that their camera hotshoes are guaranteed to handle. Anything under 24v is probably safe, and over that you are taking your chances. My flashes are all trigger between 5v and 12v. Seeing as you could pick up a replacement Vivitar 283 or 285 with a ~6 volt sync for about $50 it's probably time to retire your current flash to off camera use only.

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